[Crowd disperse, and patronise “Popsy Wopsy,” the Roulette, Ole
    Billy Fairplay, _&c._, _&c._, with renewed zest.

* * * * *

Mrs. RAMSBOTHAM is staying with her niece in the country.  She is much delighted with the rich colour of the spring bulbs, and says she at last understands the meaning of “as rich as Crocus.”

* * * * *

WILLIAM THE WHALER, AND HIS GREAT LONE WHALING EXPEDITION.

MODERN IMPERIAL GERMAN VERSION. (BY BIZZY THE PILOT.)

["The arrangements for the German Emperor’s Whale-hunting excursion have been made.”—­The Times.]

[Illustration]

‘Twas arter he’d got rid o’ Me,
Brave boys. 
When Will-I-AM he did sa-a-a-ail,
In a bit of a boat
Which would scarcely float,
And he went for to catch a Whale,
Brave boys! 
All alone for to catch a Whale.

His Sire and his Grandsire trusted Me,
Brave boys! 
Who was never known for to fa-a-a-il;
But he thought he knew
More than Cap’en and crew,
In the matter o’ catching a Whale,
Brave boys! 
In the matter o’ catching a Whale.

He’d inwented a new harpoon,
Brave boys
As was shaped on a whoppingish sca-a-a-le
And he thought with delight,
(The “magnanimous” mite!)
He was going to catch that Whale,
Brave boys! 
He made cocksure o’ catching that Whale!

There were several Whales about,
Brave boys! 
Here and there a twitching a ta-a-a-il;
And he thinks, thinks he,
“I will catch all three,
But pertikler that big black Whale,
Brave boys! 
Most pertikler that big black Whale.”

Enraptured with his bit of a boat,
Brave boys! 
He set forth to sea in a g-a-a-a-le;
Which was altogether
The wrong sort o’weather
For a novice to capture a Whale,
Brave boys! 
A mere nipper for to capture a Whale.

I gives him the best of adwice,
Brave boys! 
For I knowed he was bound for to fa-a-a-il;
But he ups, and he offs,
And he snubs me, and he scoffs
At the notion of a-missing that Whale,
Brave boys! 
The mere notion of not catching that Whale.

And he bobbles about on the waves,
Brave boys! 
And his stout heart doth not qua-a-a-ail;
He’s a foolish little chuck,
But he’s got a lot o’ pluck,
Still, he will not catch that Whale,
Brave boys! 
He ain’t going for to catch that Whale.

There was three whopping Whales in the offing,
Brave boys! 
And them he did loudly h-a-a-ail;
But to such a voice as his’n
They worn’t a-going to listen,
Especially that big black Whale,
Brave boys! 
Most especially that big black Whale.

He crept up with his big harpoon,
Brave boys! 
That monster to impa-a-a-ale,
And stubbornly he kep’ on
A hurling of his weapon,
Till he managed to hit that Whale,
Brave boys! 
He managed to prick that Whale.